GO/VIA Transit

[drpgq]

This CBC article has some info on the Stoney Creek station and the new GO service:

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/06/05/hamilton-all-day-go-train-service.html

The pertinent bits:

Bratina told CBC Hamilton that he would “love to have” all-day GO service even before the 2015 Pan Am games. “We've already seen GO-related development near the new station,” he said. “The planned Stoney Creek station would also stimulate growth in that hub, and take cars off the QEW.”

Edwards made no mention of a Stoney Creek development for GO's future plans in Hamilton.

[thistleclub]

Waterdown seeks GO Transit link
(Flamborough Review, Catherine O’Hara, July 10 2013)

Ward 15 councillor Judi Partridge’s motion, aimed to help meet the travelling needs of Waterdown residents who regularly commute to Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto, received unanimous support from members of the city’s general issues committee Tuesday.

After hearing from numerous residents about the lack of inter-regional transportation service, the local politician drafted a motion that will inform Metrolinx and GO Transit of the City of Hamilton’s wish to see expanded GO Bus service to Waterdown.

“This has been something that certainly has been on my horizon for a couple of years,” said Partridge.

With the city looking to improve its transportation system to support multi-modal mobility and promote inter-regional connections, and with the province looking to build a comprehensive regional rapid transit network throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), the motion asks that Metrolinx and GO Transit develop a strategy for a transit service extension into Waterdown.

This strategy, according to Partridge, could consist of a bus service that would operate via Dundas Street between Waterdown and Toronto’s Kipling subway station or a variant to the GO Bus route, which runs along the Hwy. 407 corridor to McMaster University.

Metrolinx has already indicated that a bus rapid transit line, running between Kipling subway station and Burlington, is one of its Next Wave priorities. Should it move forward with its plans to extend its service along Dundas Street to the western edge of Halton, the councillor’s motion proposes the route be extended beyond Burlington to service the Waterdown community.

“Why not bring it another five kilometres into the east end of Waterdown, where the huge development is taking place,” suggested Partridge. “It makes a lot of sense.”

Substantial growth is forecast for Waterdown and a large portion of these residents, predicted Partridge, will work outside of Hamilton.

“There’s a great deal of people who work in the Toronto, Oakville and Halton area, and this would just be another way to connect them,” she said.

The motion, upon ratification by council, will be presented to Metrolinx and GO Transit and signed by Mayor Bob Bratina. It will provide the agencies with concrete information on the city’s direction when it comes to its transportation plans. And since the councillors’ proposals are merely extensions to existing services, “it’s not a huge expense.”

Partridge believes that her suggestions fall in line with Metrolinx’s vision, outlined in The Big Move, an ambitious transportation plan to get people moving within the GTHA.

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

[B]

“Why not bring it another five kilometres into the east end of Waterdown, where the huge development is taking place,” suggested Partridge. “It makes a lot of sense.”

Substantial growth is forecast for Waterdown and a large portion of these residents, predicted Partridge, will work outside of Hamilton.

[/COLOR]

I don't disagree with this. If it's truly that easy, why not. My immediate reactions, though, are:

1) We should not be promoting further sprawl here. I know that it's going to continue, but it shouldn't.

2) Is this going to become another "choice"? This will be money from Metrolinx to fund transit in Hamilton. Are we one day going to hear Brattina or others saying "We need to choose between all-day Go train service, LRT, or GO service to Waterdown"? Is it too far-fetched to think councillors from Waterdown might complain about getting provincial money for LRT, in neighbourhoods that are in population decline, and not for transit in areas where the huge development is taking place?

[Beedok]

How is Waterdown booming so much? Isn't it smack dab in the middle of the Greenbelt?

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by Beedok

How is Waterdown booming so much? Isn't it smack dab in the middle of the Greenbelt?

Before the Greenbelt was enacted the region had already made plans for housing up to I think 50,000 new residents.

Besides that all the city has to do is show need and the Greenbelt will be moved, just like with Aerotropolis.

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

Before the Greenbelt was enacted the region had already made plans for housing up to I think 50,000 new residents.

Besides that all the city has to do is show need and the Greenbelt will be moved, just like with Aerotropolis.

The Aerotropolis in entirerly in non-Greenbelt land from what I can tell from the map. There's a lot of land to the south that isn't Greenbelt. Perhaps a bit of it is on the greenbelt.
The Aerotroplis is the marked box on here as best I can tell:

[ScreamingViking]

Is that the most recent map after the changes that were put forward to the OMB? (I thought it extended west to Hwy 6 just south of the 403, and south of Airport Rd. to the Greenbelt boundary)

I don't believe there have been any changes to the Greenbelt in this area either. Not even sure what the regulations are around that, though it may soon become an issue in many places north and west of Toronto.

[Beedok]

That's based off of the only map I could find.

[thistleclub]

GO Transit trains and buses get a makeover
(Toronto Star, Wendy Gillis, July 16 2013)

Perhaps fearing its green hues are so Fall 1966, GO Transit is giving its logo, buses and trains a makeover.

“After 47 years, GO is updating its look,” said Vanessa Thomas, spokesperson for Metrolinx.

The new logo will see the word ‘GO’ change from a medium green to a darker, forest green tone. The modification is intended to make the logo look better when used digitally, Thomas said.

On the trains and buses, the current green — a meadow hue that perfectly matches that of Ontario’s highway signs — will be replaced by both the new logo green and a lighter apple green.

The change of colour on buses and trains does not add any cost, she said, as it is part of ongoing refurbishing.

Some facelifted buses already made their debut earlier this month, and train passengers will notice the upgrade as early as next week.

The 60 new train cars Metrolinx ordered from Bombardier last year will also come in the new green shades.

[lucasmascotto]

So, they can update the colour of the trains, but can't give us all day service. Pfft...

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by lucasmascotto

So, they can update the colour of the trains, but can't give us all day service. Pfft...

But at least you can admire the pretty train that you just missed on your way to the GO bus you now have to take.

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

The change of colour on buses and trains does not add any cost, she said, as it is part of ongoing refurbishing.

Ongoing refurbishing there may be, but they still doubtlessly spent tens of thousands of dollars to consultants and marketing firms to develop different colour proposals, conduct focus groups, and write reports about how the colours make people feel.

Maybe we might have had to buy paint, anyway, but such a thing does not cost nothing.

[ScreamingViking]

Prettier paint... sure. Quiet zones... great. 1/2 hour service... awesome (with the Why not at the new Hamilton station? caveat of course)

WiFi?... would be a nice perk and perhaps attract more riders.

[Berklon]

I do like the quiet zone that's now in effect, and WiFi would definitely come in handy - hope they can somehow provide it.

With Presto and the fare hikes, it's costing me $20 a day to commute. That's a lot of cash. For that amount of money, I expect better service. Add 3 more trains in the morning and 3 more in the evening at least - to cater to those who need to go into work a little later and need to stay later in the evening.

As it stands I've taken it upon myself to work from home more often now. Every day I work from home I think of it as saving $20, getting to sleep in and having more personal time.

More and more workers are telecommuting - I wonder how this is going to effect GO in the future with regards to price and service.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Berklon

More and more workers are telecommuting - I wonder how this is going to effect GO in the future with regards to price and service.

It's a good question. There's probably going to be growth in passenger demand as the 905 population grows, but offset as people adjust their work habits. Some companies have been cutting back on their office space too - allowing remote home offices, with shared desks when employees need to come in for face-to-face meetings and such... if that becomes commonplace it may affect commuting demand.

Also, will GO be able to take advantage of more two-way trip flows? Right now the vast majority of rush-hour commuting is in one direction, either into or out of Union. If there is more demand for "reverse" commuting, and better suburban transit to serve those commuters, that could be a growth market.

[HillStreetBlues]

Has anyone seen this proposalfrom Transport Action Ontario?

It's a pretty long read but an interesting one, some amazing ideas. They cop out about Hunter Street tunnel, but some of the things they propose are great.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues

Has anyone seen this proposalfrom Transport Action Ontario?

It's a pretty long read but an interesting one, some amazing ideas. They cop out about Hunter Street tunnel, but some of the things they propose are great.

It is interesting.

Transit speed and frequency are keys to a successful system. GO doesn't provide them off-peak (though we'll see how well the 1/2 hour service does on Lakeshore).

Off-peak ridership would still be lower but even current GO users tend to prefer driving when it's not rush hour, so this kind of system may allow rail to be more than just a commuter option.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

...Off-peak ridership would still be lower but even current GO users tend to prefer driving when it's not rush hour, so this kind of system may allow rail to be more than just a commuter option.

To induce drivers with a real option, GO should consider a reduction in fares during off-peak hours. There is significant unused capacity between, say, 9:00am and 3:00pm. GO's "fixed costs" would be offset by more paying passengers.

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

To induce drivers with a real option, GO should consider a reduction in fares during off-peak hours. There is significant unused capacity between, say, 9:00am and 3:00pm. GO's "fixed costs" would be offset by more paying passengers.

That's a really good idea. Similarly the city should be thinking about an after 9 am monthly bus pass, like a lot of other places.

[HillStreetBlues]

I took the bus to Toronto on Saturday. The Jays were playing, so it was standing room only from King and Dundurn (I have observed this correlation, but it may not be accurate- the bus usually seems pretty close to full nearly always).

Frequency is key. This express bus service is great, partly because it means not having to drive to Aldershot, and because, outside of the busiest peak hours, it is quicker than the train. The best part of it is, though, that it comes every twenty minutes. I know a lot of people who live on the Lakeshore line, use the Go on weekdays, but would never consider it for pleasure outings on the weekends because it means "obsessing" over the schedule. If the frequency were one day twenty, fifteen, ten minutes, I think a lot of them would consider it.

Movingtohamilton, reduced fares for off-peak would be a great idea to induce demand, and shift some demand to times when the system has more capacity to handle it. It could also be the sort of thing that could be promoted in such a way as to attract riders who may have never used Go in the past.